Celebration Event

Celebration event 2015

Ceremony celebrates learners’ success storiesA 17 year-old who has turned her life around joined more than 90 of her fellow students, apprentices and trainees at a special ceremony yesterday to mark their next step towards their dream jobs.

Jessie Overton joined her delighted foster family after achieving her Level One NVQ in childcare. The 17-year-old had struggled to find her career passion but with support from her new foster family and Access Training is on track to success.

She said: “I had been living in a semi-independent house at 16, so that didn’t provide the best environment for study. I didn’t have a family to push and support me, but now I have and I am really motivated. My foster family can’t believe how far I’ve come and they were really proud on Thursday.

“My friend suggested I try Access Training as I’d found that exams and being stuck in a classroom didn’t suit my lively personality and hands-on skills. I’m really happy and once I’ve done another year of childcare and possible some travel and tourism qualifications I’m hoping to work as a children’s entertainer abroad. Before Access Training that wouldn’t have been possible.”

Jessie, along with 90 other Access Training learners from across the East Midlands, picked up her certificate in front of family and friends on Thursday at an event to celebrate their achievements. Handing out the end of year certificates was Mark Spencer MP.

“I really enjoyed attending the event and meeting all the young people who have achieved so much,” he said. “Organisations such as Access Training play a vital part in helping the next generation to gain the skills and experience which will be vital to their own success, and also to our local economy when they move in to work. It’s really important that we give people the right skills through training and education.

“Congratulations to all those who have gained their qualifications and it was a real pleasure to present you with your certificates.”

Access Training, based in Nottingham and Derby, provides a range of on-the-job training across the East Midlands. The award-winning training organisation, which has more than 30 years of success at helping people into employment, has 500 learners on apprenticeships and 120 school pupils undertaking vocational training.

Futures Housing Group, Acclaim Housing Group and Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) Group acquired the award-winning training company last year, as part of a joint venture.

Corrina Hembury, managing director at Access Training, said: “I am delighted that we were able to recognise the achievements of so many students in this way. Every learner has worked tremendously hard over the past 12 months and gained valuable skills to help them into further training or employment.

“The graduating class represents the best in the East Midlands and are our workforce of the future. We know the region has a skills gap which can hold back growth and that 57,000 (11%) of young people in the region are either not in work, training or education. Our role is to address both those issues – building individual skills and confidence and giving the region the best chance of economic success.

“Last year Access Training saw 87% of our learners gain their expected result, compared to a national average of 60%. We now look to build on that success rate next year with new and current learners."

Would-be students or their parents wanting information on apprenticeships, trainee opportunities and full-time courses starting in September can contact Access Training on 0115 958 7257.

A selection of photos from the event on 16th July at Crowne Plaza Hotel.